WINGATE, N.C. – For the first time in program history the Anderson University (29-5) women's volleyball team is heading to the NCAA Tournament National Quarterfinals after knocking off the No. 2 seed in the Southeast in Augusta University in straight sets on Sunday, December 3.
Senior Tabitha Wheeler (Greenville, S.C.) posted her third-straight double-digit kill game, tallying ten in the contest while a trio of Trojans recorded seven. That trio was senior Meg Sansbury (Seneca, S.C.), senior Rylie Sargent (Greer, S.C.) and sophomore Brantley Chipley (Spartanburg, S.C.). Graduate Lindsay McCurley (Simpsonville, S.C.) posted a team high 14 digs while senior Jenna Long (Clearwater, Fla.) turned in 37 assists.
The Jaguars took the early lead and extended it out to four points at 7-3. Anderson began to close the gap at that point and eventually was able to tie the match up at 12. Augusta was able to make a short run after that, but the Trojans were able to take their first lead of the set at 17-16 before the battle for the opening momentum began. The teams traded points back and forth with five more ties occurring before the final tie at 25. Wheeler and Sansbury were able to post back-to-back kills to secure the first set win 27-25.
Anderson opened the second set with a four-point run and further extended their lead out to six at 7-1. The Trojans continued to pour on the offense as they were able to double up the Jaguars in the second at 16-8. Augusta was able to shrink their deficit by two but the Trojans cranked the scoring back up again as they were able to double up the Jaguars again, this time at 22-11. Anderson was outscored 4-3 over the final stretch, but took the set 25-15.
Again the Trojans were able to string together a good stretch of points in the early goings of the third, opening with a 4-1 lead before forcing the Jaguars to call a timeout at 9-4. A five-point run by Augusta brought them back to within two and another five-point run was able to give them their first lead of the third set and their first lead since late in the first set. Anderson was able to retake their advantage with three multi-point runs that gave them a four-point lead at 23-19. Augusta scored three straight points to close the gap back to one, but two kills by Sansbury but the Jags season to rest as the Trojans took the 25-22 win.
Anderson will now head to Moon Township, Pa. to take part in the NCAA National Quarterfinals. The eight remaining teams will be seeded by the National Committee with the match-ups being released early Monday afternoon.
